For holiday shopping, try the airport

The airport is probably the last place you would want to spend any more time than absolutely necessary, much less shop for holiday gifts. After all, you’re lucky if you find a good meal at a decent price there.

Peterson said airports are adapting to draw in shoppers, diversifying the available merchandise beyond the usual tchotchkes and trinkets. "There are actually now almost boutique like locations popping up that will sell you clothes, sell you shoes, and that’s not something you’d expect to buy at an airport. Some of them will ship your purchases to you, and if you know that in advance, then you can sort of strategize what you’re going to get."

She said given that shoppers can compare prices on their phones, airports are now bringing high in-terminal prices closer to what they call "street pricing."